Minnesota Legal Aid Explained
Minnesota Legal Aid is a network of eight nonprofit legal aid programs that provide free civil legal services to low-income individuals and families in Minnesota. The goal of legal aid is to ensure that all people, regardless of their income, have access to the justice system. This includes access to legal assistance for criminal matters, family law issues, housing disputes, consumer concerns, and many other civil legal issues.
To qualify for additional assistance from Minnesota Legal Aid, such as no-cost or sliding scale legal services or free phone advice, applicants must meet certain income guidelines . These income guidelines are used to determine financial eligibility for assistance programs and determine which legal aid services are accessible to whom. While Minnesota Legal Aid may consider eligibility factors beyond just income, it is important to understand these guidelines and how they apply, as they are an important part of determining whether you qualify for assistance.
In the next section, we will take a closer look at the Minnesota Legal Aid income guidelines and how they are used to assess eligibility for legal assistance.
Who is Eligible for Legal Aid?
Eligibility Criteria for Minnesota Legal Aid
Elderly or disabled persons, as well as adults with minor children, are eligible for legal aid regardless of their residency if they are in financial difficulty and meet the low-income limits. People who may benefit from legal aid but don’t fit into any of these categories can still qualify based on a "low-income" standard, which generally follows the federal guidelines and aids those who have difficulty paying for necessities like food and housing. However, the income limit varies based on the person’s family size. While the income limit is determined by legal aid offices, the poverty guidelines are updated annually based on the amount of money urban America requires to survive, both in single-person households and in households that have both one adult and children. These guidelines differ from earlier programs that helped farm families and do not take into account rural expenses such as transportation or food production. The minimum amounts people can make to qualify for legal aid, regardless of their location and living conditions, are those of a single-person home making $12,880 or a two-person household making $17,424. Households with more than two people can add $4,540 for each additional family member to the original low-income limit.
Income Guidelines for Legal Aid
In order to qualify for legal services at Minnesota legal aid agencies, applicants must meet certain income guidelines. Not all legal aid organizations in Minnesota use the same guidelines; however, generally, applicants are not eligible if their income exceeds 200% or 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (most use 200%). The annual income guidelines applicable to Minnesota legal aid programs for 2023, broken down by household size, are:
One person: $28,320
Two people: $38,680
Three people: $48,800
Four people: $59,120
Five people: $69,440
Six people: $79,760
Seven people: $90,080
Eight people: $100,400
Nine people: $110,720
Ten people: $121,040
Beyond the Federal Poverty Guidelines, some legal aid programs also consider your assets (what you own). However, most legal aid programs do not.
Documentation Needed to Apply
The Minnesota Legal Aid Income Guidelines are designed as a tool to determine eligibility for the legal aid programs that we run. To verify the income eligibility of an applicant, we ask that applicants make available certain documentation as part of the application process.
This documentation is very important, as we strive to serve low-income Minnesotans who are in greatest need, as clearly defined by our income guidelines. So, to verify income, we generally prefer two or more consecutive months of check stubs or other facility-prepared pay statements from the two months before the application date. If an applicant does not have income in the form of regular wages, we request whatever documentation is available for verification. We will consider the type and source of income in determining the most suitable means of verification. Examples of possible documentation for the verification of non-wages include: In instances where the applicant has no income or undocumented income, we will require a signed statement identifying the basis for the claim of no income. As a reminder, it is the responsibility of an applicant to establish eligibility for the program. If there are no documents available that will establish income, consider these options:
Types of Cases They Handle
Minnesota legal aid may offer assistance with a wide range of legal cases. However, not all services are provided to every member of the public. Legal aid offers types of services on an income-based level, meaning its assisting lawyers follow specific income eligibility guidelines set by the Legal Services Corporation (LSC). As mentioned in the previous section, those eligibility requirements often "red flag" certain types of legal assistance.
For example, legal aid in Minnesota can assist with family law issues, landlord and tenant issues, housing issues, domestic abuse cases and simple solutions for consumer issues and bankruptcy cases. It also aids in healthcare calls , farm and agricultural issues, disability, public benefits, education and environmental concerns like pollution and natural resources.
In terms of family law, legal aid can assist with divorce, child support, child custody, domestic abuse, family assistance, guardianship of minors, paternity, spousal maintenance and rights of children. For housing issues, they can assist with evictions, low-income apartments, homelessness and just cause evictions. For civil matters, legal aid helps with contracts, insurance claims, civil rights, businesses, local government and protection from scams and fraud.
How to Obtain Legal Aid
Most legal aid programs in Minnesota require an online application to determine eligibility. However, there is one program that provides help to those unable to access the internet and self-screen. Visit the Minnesota Alliance on Crime (MAC) website to learn how to apply for legal aid if you are unable to apply online. MAC can facilitate a warm hand-off to a legal aid service provider to determine eligibility from there. For all other Minnesota legal aid programs, you must do a prescreen questionnaire to determine your eligibility. To start the process, you will need to: You can also call the statewide HelpMELaw help line available 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Some of these resources are also available in Spanish.
Additional Resources
Minnesota Justice Foundation
Phone: 612-334-5970 (Law Student Assistance Line)
Website: www.mnjustice.org
The Minnesota Justice Foundation is connected to the Minnesota State Bar Association and provides a number of resources for those in need of legal assistance. Their primary goal is to support law students interested in taking on pro bono work during their time in law school. However, those in need of specific legal information can also access the resources provided on their website or call their law student assistance line .
Volunteer Lawyers Network
Phone: 612-752-6677
Website: www.mnbar.org/members/Join/volunteer-lawyer-network.aspx
The Volunteer Lawyers Network is a division of the MN State Bar Association that offers legal services directly to those who are qualified. Eligibility is based on asset and income levels, similar to the criteria set forth by Legal Services Corporation. Their lawyers volunteer their time based on case need and availability. Their volunteer lawyers offer their legal services on civil cases, for those who are eligible, at no cost.